I-10 is drivable.
Hwy 49 is drivable
Cowan / Loraine Rd is drivable (Gulfport)
Popps Ferry (Biloxi) is closed
To reach Bay St Louis you have to go down I-10 and take the Waveland exit and take 90.
Anything south of the railroad tracks in Pass Chrisitan is gone. North isn't as bad
As of 1 Sep 05, Hattiesburg was about 75% clear and operational.
As of 1 Sep 05, There was power to most of Jackson but limited gas
As of 1 Sep 05, The closest rental car place is in Georgia
Keesler AFB has hurricane info concerning the base on their website at http://www.keesler.af.mil
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There was a car jacking in the Biloxi area right outside of the Keesler AFB main gate
It is sad to say, but anyone that is going down there to get family or friends out of the area please take protection with you.
As of 2 Sep 05, Most of Clermont gone.
As of 2 Sep 05, Carriere faired pretty well. There is no power, down trees, and roof damage here and there much like Wiggins.
As of 3 Sep 05, Got word that some power has been restored to Harrison county...not much, but it's better then nothing. No new news on road conditions.
As of 4 Sep 05: Power has been restored to parts of Oceansprings. Roads in Diamondhead are slowly being cleared away. It is probably one of the easiest areas to get around. Most of the damage was down trees.
As of 5 Sep 05: Parts of Gulfport now have power.
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Family:
The Prevou family of Bay St Louis is OK to include the Becks and Becky Rotundo. Rick Rotundo of Gulfport is okay. Carbone sisters are okay (Diamondhead and Gautier). Judd family of D'iberville and Gulfport are okay. Walker family of Diamondhead on Diamondhead E Dr are okay. Father of Robert Stevens of Bay St Louis is okay. Got word that Susan Griggs and family of Oceansprings are okay. Also, finally got word from the Hodas of Diamondhead. That family is safe too.
One more to add: Eric Bran and family of Gulfport are fine.
Looking for word on Robert Stevens of Bay St Louis (being asked by Joseph Prevou). If you have word on him please email me at trameta@yahoo.com. Thank you!
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Sept 2, 2005
Got the following email from my mom. She works for Best Western
Dear Fellow Staff Member:
The images are so catastrophic they overwhelm us. The damage done
by Hurricane Katrina to North America> '> s Gulf Coast is so massive
that it is hard to grasp. Many of you have family and friends whose lives
have been directly affected by this disaster. We join you in praying
for their safety and well-being.
Information is still difficult to come by, but we do know that we
have no contact with at least 40 Best Western properties. We have heard
from several. The damage ranges from roof damage to near-destruction.
Today, our Board approved a special fund drive through our > ">
Best Western for a Better World> "> community service program. We hope
to raise $1 million, and we will make an immediate donation of $250,000
to the American Red Cross. During the next two months, we will work
with our properties around the world to reach that pledge. In addition,
members of the Gold Crown Club International, will be able to donate
their points directly to the Red Cross relief fund.
From the money raised, 60 percent will be earmarked for the
American Red Cross hurricane relief fund. The remaining 40 percent will go to
regional marketing and community assistance programs in the impacted
areas.
We have also formulated a disaster assistance program for affected
properties. The program includes reducing or waiving monthly membership
fees; assisting with insurance claims; arranging for extended credit
terms with vendors; providing reconstruction support; developing
marketing plans to re-establish hotels; and coordinating volunteers to provide
property-level support, during recovery.
Many of you have asked how you can help. You can make a donation
by personal check, through payroll deduction or by donating vacation
time, which Best Western will forward to the American Red Cross for the
relief efforts. You will receive an acknowledgement letter/receipt from
the American Red Cross that can be used with your taxes to claim a
charitable contribution. You> '> ll find details on how to contribute on
my.bwi.com, along with updates on the status of Best Western member
properties. Proceeds from the online internal auction currently underway on
mybwi.com will be designated for the hurricane relief effort.
I'll keep you posted as events occur. In the meantime, I ask
you to reach out, help where you can, and keep all affected by this
disaster in your prayers.
Sincerely,
David Kong
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A letter I received from my aunt after picking my sister up from D'Iberville, 2 Sept 05:
Hello to my family and friends.
I want to let you all know that Greg and I have just got back from driving straight to Gulf Port, MS to get my niece Sharon Carbone Judd and her twin daughters Sheila and Shayla.
We got called around midnight Wednesday for help, they needed out.
We drove through traffic and tornado stricken Mississippi and Alabama all night and 1/2 of Thursday, the road from Hattiesburg, MS to Gulf Port IS CLEAR!!! We prayed we would make it, everyone who talked to us said it was blocked and we couldn't go, we went and we saw and got out!
In all my 37 years of life on this planet, I have never seen or smelled anything more horrific! It was and is as of this moment a total loss for everyone there.
We got of I-10 and went on our way to get Sharon and the twins and to take food, water, and medical aid kits to Zac's (Sharon's husband) family, the hwy was okay until the Gauiter exit and the road was out and we had to get off and go to I-110, from there it looked like a war zone. The off ramp was littered with garbage, house siding, a boat, dead animals, steel from billboards, you name it and it was there. We got on to the main road to Zac's dads home and I just started to cry and pray. (We got Sharon and the girls out safely and headed to Mobil to travel through Alabama, they have safe roads in and out of the Gulf Coast. We got as far as Mobil and Sharon started to pass out. We rushed her to the hospital, she was treated for extreme exposure and extreme dehydration, we spent 4 hours in the ER there, the Dr also examined the girls to make sure they were okay and they are healthy, however as a pre-caution on Tuesday we are taking them to our local community health center to have exams and a health check up since they too have been exposed to the same conditions and inscets, etc.... we are monitoring them closely for any sign of west nile and other health problems that may show up after being exposed. Sharon is recovering and will be okay.)
My heart sank and could not speak.
There was a 35ft sail boat settled on it side up 50 feet in the area among Oak trees 5 miles inland, shrimp boats on top of another, peoples personal boats, and cars all over.
Police cars abandon and salt water soaked with trees on them.
We got to the turn for John Judd's house and all I could do then is say "OH MY LORD" and cry. It was like something out of a hollywood bad b movie, but real.
Garbage in the trees, sides of roads, trees every place, power and phone lines just gone, homes torn in 1/2 or completely destroyed. The smell! The second we drove into John's subdivision it hit us there was no escaping it.
In all my life I have never smelt anything like this, take a dead animal several days dead add rotting garbage, raw sewage, ocean smell, and rotting fish and then you might come close to what I smelt yesterday and what my niece and her family and others trapped in D'Iberville and Gauiter Mississippi are living with. They cannot go back into the homes, the sea water with sewage detroyed it, Sharon's home was unsafe do to several large trees smashed into it and a large chunk of roof exposed to the elements and wildlife. They were all in tents set up in several yards, no electric, no drinkable water, they have dug a hole for a toilet, they had no first aid kit, and food was running out, all the people on their block moved all of what they could that was not contaminated to one safe location and for safety all slept near each other in tents. They all have NO way to get out, their cars all are full of sea water, sewage, and debrie, several had ruptured gas tanks and fuel was leaking on the street along with motor oil and all the other fluids from about 20-30 cars. We took 30 gallons of fuel with us for them hopefully someone can get a car dried out enough to get out. There is NO Red Cross, we passed a few military doing traffic duty, and blocking the damaged part of I-10, there were convoys of military headed into Biloxi, but not Gauiter or D'Iberville. We took enough food and supplies for 10 people for 3 days plus the gas. We got Sharon and the girls and got out and continue to pray for the Judd family that help comes soon to get everyone out of that area. They are afraid to leave their block for fear of being carjacked, or killed. There are no buses their taking people out to safer locations. One man walked up and told us thank you for helping them and all he had left were the clothes he had on and started to cry. I believe God ment for Greg and I to go there and see what conditions these people have and beg all of you to help!!!
In all my life I have never seen such things or feared for so many people's life.
Every day that goes by is a day closer to death for many of the elderly in that condition.
They need food, medical help, and clothing for all of you who want to help. Every small town between Biloxi to Pascagola is in dire need. Yes, the military is coming.... and some are there, aid is coming, yet... but to many who have no way to get that aid, these people need help and that is why I am pleading to all of you to contact your local church, radio station and newpaper and tell them the towns of Gauiter and D'Iberville need help immediately and please keep the Judd family and their neighbors in your prayers. Yes, John and his family are leaving and want to leave, but they are staying for now to help care for neighbors. Their neighbor hood is safe for now.
I have taken photos and I will e-mail them to any of you who would like to see what I saw.
A local church here is gathering up supplies and taking a group to relief help to D'Iberville. This is a start.
So, that is my update to you all and be sure that the images you see on TV are real, but only 1% of what the area really looks like and what that area is really suffering from.
Take care to all. I am off to recover myself since we haven't slept since Tuesday night.
Love to you all, Anita
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My own husband returned tonight from getting his mother and grandparents out of Bay St Louis. He said that the smell of death was overwhelming. He hasn't been able to say much else. Bay St Louis is where he grew up, his home. And now it's gone.
Also, received a call from my father-in-law (2 Sep). He asked to get the word out for people not to take any unnecessary trips as gas is like gold down there. They are still in dire need of help down there. Please, please, please donate to the Red Cross or Salvation Army. You can also start taking collection of items to be sent down as soon as they give the word that the mail system has returned to that area.
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Spoke w/my mother-in-law 4 Sep:
State farm is already on the gulfcoast. People can file on line. Call the IRS at 800-829-1040 for assistance as well.
Harbor Drive area in Bay St Louis is covered w/trees and bodies.
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06 Sep 05:
This is from http://www.wlox.com
(Jackson, Mississippi-AP) September 6, 2005 - All major highways and interstates are open in Mississippi except for U.S. Highway 90 along the Gulf Coast.
The Mississippi Highway Patrol is encouraging motorists not to drive to the coast unless it's absolutely necessary. Because of a lack of fuel in affected areas, authorities say the danger still exists that motorists could be stranded.
Also, roadblocks and curfews may be in place in certain areas.
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Received the following email at work on 15 Sep 05
VA and DECA have requested our assistance in getting the following information out. Please help disseminate the following information:
VA EMPLOYEES:
About 1,500 VA employees (included in a total of about 4,000 federal employees) are missing from areas affected by Hurricane
Katrina. We know displaced residents have gone to locations across the country, so we'd be grateful for your help in
publicizing this toll-free number.
Employees should call 1-888-766-2474 as soon as possible to provide their name, position title, location and contact
number.
DECA EMPLOYEES:
Would you please circulate this message searching for approx 34 missing Defense Commissary Employees from New Orleans, Keesler, and Gulfport stores to all Federal agencies all over the country and do anything else you can to publicize the toll-free number. We would be most grateful.
These missing employees should call the DeCA helpline (toll-free) at 1-877-925-6655 or commercial (210) 925-1109 (password: 1109) or e-mail us at Katrina.Help@deca.mil so we can contact and issue them evacuation orders.
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